Chapter 31

Mikan finished putting away her groceries and then padded out into the sitting area of her apartment. She squeezed the carpet with her bare toes, enjoying the feeling. There had been nothing like this on Ragrun. Even the carcha compound had been all hard floors. She glanced down at her toes and at the bare expanse of her legs. A tingle ran up her spine. She wouldn't have imagined but she liked wearing clothes like this. She liked Callum's eyes on her. Maybe it was just Venus and her lust infecting her but she thought she might like to wear something even more daring at some point.

A knock made her jump and she stared at the door, wondering what to do. Should she open it? How did she even do that? Bel had opened her door every time so far. And she did again. The door slid aside and Bel stepped in, smiling apologetically. "Sorry. I wasn't sure you knew how to open this." She waved Mikan over and showed her how to open the door, as well as how to check who was on the other side with a little video screen and how to use an intercom to speak to the person on the other side. Apparently the doors and walls of the apartment were mostly soundproof.

When they were finished, they moved deeper into the apartment and Mikan started to feel a very anxious. She liked Bel and wanted Bel to like her but she couldn't come up with something to say. She glanced at Bel who was studying her and quickly looked back down. It was too much. She was absurdly beautiful. Venus apparently manifested as personification of a person's ideal female beauty and Mikan thought the next time she saw her, she might end up looking a little more like Bel.

"Are you feeling alright?" Bel asked. "I just wanted to check on you before I went. You were quiet most of the day and I know seeing your friend affected you."

"Oh, I'm, um, I'm fine," Mikan said, snapping her head up and then down again. "I'm sorry. I'm always quiet. I can't think very fast. I'm sorry." Her face heated. Why was talking so hard for her?

Bel stepped close and tilted Mikan's face up. Mikan didn't resist even though her heart started pounding and her face grew even redder. Bel examined her with slightly narrowed eyes. "Your face is so warm," she murmured, putting fingers gently to her temple. Mikan breathed in sharply. "Are you sure you aren't sick? I have no experience with human illnesses but I believe your body temperatures should normally be about the same as mine. I think one of our clinics could take care of you if you are sick."

Mikan couldn't speak. She wanted to tell Bel that she was perfectly healthy and not to worry but her throat was utterly dry. She couldn't take her eyes off of Bel's face. It was perfect. There was no other word to describe it. Mikan managed to work enough moisture into her mouth to speak and she whispered, "You're so beautiful." As soon as she said it, she gasped. That was not what she had meant to say.

Bel's eyes widened in surprise and then she laughed softly. "Why, thank you." She laughed again. "Oh, I've completely misread this, haven't I? So it's an arousal response. How interesting." Mikan's face managed to grow even warmer. Bel giggled again. "And I'm only making it worse, aren't I?" She didn't move one step back, though.

Mikan couldn't move away, either. Her eyes were locked on to Bel's The shimmering pink and purple were hypnotic. She drifted forward, her eyelids drooping. A breath later she realized what she was doing and froze. Bel came to meet her though. She pressed her lips against Mikan's and kissed her.

It was so different from the kisses she'd shared with Callum. Those had been sweet but fumbling and sloppy. Bel knew how to kiss and her lips were so soft. Mikan fell into it and kissed her back, doing her best to match what Bel was doing. They pressed against each other, Bel winding her arms around Mikan and pulling her in. Bel was so soft and comfortable, so different from the hard, strong body of Callum. Mikan couldn't decide which she liked best. She reached up and felt Bel's hair. It was just as silky and smooth as it looked.

Bel pushed her back until she was against a wall and pressed in closer. They were almost the same height so it was easier to kiss her while standing than it was Callum. Bel's breasts pressed up against her and Mikan suddenly found herself wondering if she could touch them. Was that allowed? Mikan suddenly realized that she had no idea what was going on and that took her out of the moment.

Bel noticed and pulled back. She grinned. "I guess you are feeling healthy enough," she chuckled. She ran a hand gently down Mikan's cheek and then stepped back. "That was fun." She danced back, still smiling and then said, "I'll see you later." She turned and left, with one last grin over her shoulder.

Mikan leaned against the wall, her knees so weak she didn't think she could move away from it. What had just happened? She went over it in her head and still couldn't believe it. Only the lingering feel of Bel's lips and breasts and hips convinced her that she hadn't just had a crazy delusion. Energy suddenly welled up in her and Mikan had to move. "What the hell?!" she shouted. Then she started running around her apartment. "What the hell?! What the hell?!"

She tripped over the low table in the sitting room and went head over heels, landing on her back. She was too amped up to feel hurt. Mikan gazed at the ceiling and mumbled, "What the hell?" She had just kissed Bel. Not just kissed her, made out with her. She had just met her, she wasn't even human and she was a girl! But it felt so incredibly good. And Mikan had started it. She had been the one to lean in. Why? Mikan had always been hyper-aware of pretty women but she thought it was just because they made her feel her own plainness so much. She'd never fantasized about kissing them. Was this because of Venus? And if it was, was it wrong?

Mikan bit her lip and ran her hands up her body and over her breasts. Whatever it was, she couldn't deny that she was turned on. Her nipples were hard under her shirt. She slipped her hands underneath her blouse and played with her breasts and nipples. With a groan, she arched her back. What would have happened if Mikan hadn't suddenly snapped out of whatever haze she'd been in? How did two women have sex? Would Bel have sucked her nipples, kissed down her belly and nibbled on her clit?

A shudder rippled through Mikan as she imagined it. She lifted her butt and moved her hands under her skirt. The one piece of clothing that Bel had picked out for her were a small pair of underpants. They were white and silky and barely covered more than her vagina but Bel had insisted that they were a must when wearing a short skirt. Mikan hooked her thumbs around the waistband of the panties and pushed them down her thighs. Her hands went to her pussy and began to work. For the first time since she'd laid eyes on him, Callum wasn't the focus of her thoughts as she pleasured herself.

The door to her apartment opened and Century walked in. She stopped as soon as she saw Mikan, shock painting her features and then an embarrassed blush. She glanced away but didn't run right back out like Mikan would have. In fact, she didn't seem like she was going anywhere.

Mikan's ardor was broken anyway. All she felt was humiliation. A scream welled up in her but it wouldn't come out. She rolled away from Century with a strangled groan. Her face felt like it was going to melt off. After a moment, she realized with her panties around her knees and her skirt bunched around her waist, she was showing Century her whole ass. With a muffled cry, she jerked her skirt down.

"I'm sorry, Mikan," Century said. "I…should have knocked."

Mikan wanted to yell that she most certainly should have and also to get the hell out but she couldn't quite make herself do it. She promised herself that she would always lock her door from now on. Bel had shown her how. 'No, don't think about Bel right now.' With as much dignity as she could muster, Mikan stood and pulled her underpants back up. She wiped away the tears in her eyes and tried to settle her hair and blouse and skirt before turning around. "What do you want, Century?" Mikan wished she could have put a little more heat in the question.

Century put a land to the back of her neck, still wearing a light blush of embarrassment. It was a bit odd on that pretty but stern face. Now that Mikan thought about it, it was the first time she'd seen Century anything but completely confident. The woman was a head taller than Mikan with a lean, muscular build, olive skin and long brown hair worn in a simple braid. Her hazel eyes normally met everyone directly with palpable arrogance but they were averted now.

Mikan really knew nothing about her. Even 'Century' was apparently just a code name. She had saved Mikan's life, though. Mikan had been going berserk after she thought Nita died, uncaring if she herself died as long as she killed as many carcha as she could. Century had talked her down. She'd also been the only human in a high-security carcha prison and refused to divulge any details about her life other than her code name and the fact that she worked for somebody called the "King of Man."

"Sorry. I just saw that fie woman leave a little bit ago so I didn't think you would be...well, I thought you would be free to talk." Century shook herself and her embarrassment melted away, replaced by her usual arrogant forwardness. "What have you been doing with her? Where did you go?"

Mikan sat down cross-legged at the little table and rested her chin on her hand. "Where were we? Where were you? Bel wanted you to come with us, too. Where could you even have gone without any fie with you?"

"I can get anywhere I want to go," Century said smugly. "And I was taking a look around without any aliens showing me what they wanted me to see." She sneered the word 'aliens' for some reason.

"Do you not like the fie? They rescued us and have been nothing but kind. They aren't anything like the carcha."

Century snorted. "You can't trust anything that isn't human," she said firmly. "And you can trust most humans about this far." She held up her thumb and forefinger so they were almost touching. "Now tell me what you did with this 'Bel.'"

Mikan shrugged. It wasn't like she had anything to hide. She told Century about the identity chips, the clothing store and the grocery store. When she spoke of the hospital and seeing Chajin and Nita, Mikan's throat thickened. No matter what Callum and Bel said, she knew that Nita's condition was her fault. She desperately hoped she would live and that the fie could do something about her arm. Mikan had been afraid to ask unless they told her it was impossible. She wanted to cling to her hope. I wonder if I could give her my arm? She finished up by telling Century about the restaurant and bringing in the groceries. Of course, she said nothing about the kiss. She didn't know if she would ever tell anybody about it.

Century listened without comment and was silent for a long while after Mikan stopped speaking. Mikan had no idea what she could be thinking about. The day had been a wild one for her but there was nothing sinister in it. The look in Century's eyes made Mikan keep silent, however. Finally, Century said, "I can't believe you let them chip you." She shook her head. "They own you now. They can track you and who knows what that chip can do. Maybe they could detonate it if you betray them!"

Mikan stared at her in confusion. "I think it's just their way of organizing things here. Why do you think they would detonate it? It's really small anyway. I don't think it would do much."

"What if they detonate it right in an artery? What then?" Century's had a wild look on her face. "No, no. I'm not letting any alien device into my bloodstream."

"What are you going to do then?" Maybe the carcha had imprisoned Century because she was crazy. Mikan felt a little stunned. Century had seemed intense but normal before. 'Then again, she did steal that mech and hide out on Ragrun for weeks instead of joining the rest of us like any sensible person.' "I don't think you can be a pilot for the fie if you don't get an identity chip."

"Pilot for them?" Century scoffed. "I pilot for one man only and that man is the King of Man!" Century thundered, standing up.

Mikan shied away from her, not understanding the sudden rage. "Fine. I understand. I'm just asking what you are going to do if you won't work with them."

Century huffed, her eyes a little wild. Then calmed and sat back down. "I never said I wouldn't work with them. But I'm not getting chipped!"

"I see," Mikan said, not understanding at all. She was about to see if Century wanted to help her make something to eat--despite her eccentricity, the woman did seem to have a decent understanding of technology--when there was a knock on the door. Both of them glanced over in surprise.

Century looked back to Mikan, her eyes very wide. "Are you expecting somebody?" Mikan shook her head. Century hissed. Then she scuttled over the table and scurried toward the bedroom. "I'll hide under the bed. If you want me to take out whoever comes in, just use my name in a sentence. I'll keep an ear open." She nodded as if everything was settled and disappeared into the bedroom.

Mikan shook her head. Who did she think possibly could be out there? But now Mikan's stomach was flip flopping. Who could it be? Callum? It couldn't be somebody dangerous. Could it? She stood up with some reluctance and padded to the door. There was an opening mechanism on the wall just beyond the entry alcove that she hit with trepidation. Then she took a long step back as the door slid open.

The figure on the other side was no one that Mikan had ever seen. Her belly tightened and she took another step back as the stranger entered her apartment. It was a fie. The dark blue, almost violet, skin attested to that. Mikan realized with some surprise that it was a man. She had seen some fie men when they were out today but every fie that she had spoken to had been a woman.

The strange man was of medium height, which meant he was still quite a bit taller than she, and slim without much muscle definition on his exposed arms and legs. His clothing was beyond odd. His shirt was sheer mesh from the midriff up, including long puffy sleeves that tightened at the wrist. Below the midriff it was solid black and skin tight down to his hips. He wore a short black skirt, checkered red and yellow. Below that his long, indigo legs were bare down to bright yellow calf-high boots with very pointy toes. His fingernails were also stained yellow and he had gold rings on the middle two fingers of his right hand.

His face was...beautiful. That was the first word that came to mind. It was much too delicate to be called handsome but still subtly masculine around the jaw and the brow. The eyes were as big as any girl's though and the darkest eyes she'd seen on a fie. The outer iris was completely black, almost overwhelming the inner iris of lilac. His hair was a very pale pink and worn in two long braids that fell over his chest. Bells and other chimes were woven into the braids so that he jingled softly with every movement of his head. His ears were studded with several small yellow gems.

Mikan stared as he flexed his knees out and bent forward at the waist. "Mistress Mikan," he said, the chimes in his hair tinkling, "my name is Jaluadecen and I have the honor to be appointed your aide and guide." His voice was soft and a little high for a man, though for all she knew it was completely normal for a male fie. When he straightened, he was glowering at her, his pouty lips curled into a slight snarl. It made the whole situation even more confusing. His words were cool and polite but his face was furious. Mikan remembered Bel saying something about getting an aide but she had never expected anything like this.

"I'm...glad to meet you, Jaludac..sen…" she said, doing her best to copy his strange bow. He'd been speaking fie rapidly and the translator in her ear had been hard to understand.

His sneer got worse. "Jaluadecen." He enunciated it slowly. He stepped out of his boots and deeper into her apartment. Mikan noted that his toe-nails were painted the same yellow as his fingernails. "For the next twenty-four days, I am at your service." He stopped a few paces away from her and waited expectantly.

"I see." Mikan didn't know what to do or say. She wished the man would just go away. Century too, for that matter. She wanted to be alone. Not to masturbate anymore but just because she was tired of dealing with weirdos. But she didn't want to be rude, either. She'd never been able to be rude. On purpose, at least. She was sweating badly. "Do you think you can show me how to adjust the temperature in this apartment?"

His expression suggested she had asked him the stupidest question he'd ever heard but he was very polite and thorough in showing her how to adjust the climate in her apartment. That unsurprisingly led to a tour of the entire apartment as he showed her everything about it and how to operate it all. Mikan was following along pretty well until he turned on the screen in her sitting room and asked her if there was any type of show she enjoyed watching. Mikan had no idea what he was talking about so he put something on the screen.

It was a woman standing in front of another video that was showing what seemed to be mechs fighting. Mikan leaned forward. Was that Ragrun? There was so much new going on here that her head spun. "Where is that woman at?" she asked, hearing a high-pitched whine in her voice but unable to stop it. "How is she there?"

Jaluadecen side-eyed her and his lips puckered for a second. "It is an information cast," he said. "It was recorded probably a few hours ago and then uploaded to the ship's net. There are millions of other videos, recorded at all different times."

Mikan closed her eyes and tried to order it in her head. They had some way of capturing an image of somebody doing something and then putting it on a screen to watch. It was incredible and she couldn't begin to imagine how it was done, so she just accepted it. But millions? Why? What could they be of? She glanced at Jaluadecen and saw that he was controlling the screen with that little virtual display that the identity chip could display. "Can you show me how to control the screen?" Mikan remembered that the chip woman had told her how to activate the display and she tapped her palm twice with her middle two fingers. To her delight, the display appeared.

Jaluadecen came close so that he could show her how to operate the screen. He had a very sweet smell but it wasn't unpleasant. Mikan couldn't read the display obviously but he showed her how to access various lists of videos and choose one to begin playing either on the screen or in a little box on her display. Mikan began choosing and watching videos at random. She didn't understand what almost any of them were about but it was so fascinating to choose a video and watch it play.

For a while she thought she was watching various recordings of different things that had happened and was absolutely astounded. There were videos of families living at home and spectacular mech fights and heroic struggles against carcha. Her face went scarlet when she stumbled on a video of two lovers having their way with each other. She marked the list for later viewing, though.

Jaluadecen threw her mind for a loop when he told her that some of the videos--most, in fact--were pretend. Staged. He tried to explain that they were just for entertainment but Mikan didn't get that at all. And how was she supposed to know what was real and what was fake? Even so, she couldn't stop picking out videos and watching them. Jaluadecen sat against the wall behind her and started using his own hand-display for something. He was very attentive and polite whenever she asked a question but the glower never left his face.

After a few hours he got up and asked her if he could make them something to eat. She murmured an affirmative without really hearing. 'Why are they trying to squeeze into such tiny boxes?' Jaluadecen walked to the kitchen and began bustling around. Mikan heard him muttering to himself but it didn't seem to be loud enough to activate her translator. She was more concerned with her next video anyway. 'Do fie men really slap each other that often?'

Jaluadecen brought the food over when he was done. There was a sandwich made with very thick bread, some kind of savory meat and tart cheese with crisp vegetables and a slightly sour sauce. It was delicious. He also brought a small bowl of salty, crunchy things, several slices of a mildly sweet fruit and a glass of water. He brought the same things for himself. Mikan scarfed it all down without stopping her videos.

She only stopped because her eyes and her bladder began to hurt. Eventually it was too much and she got up to relieve herself. As she washed her hands afterward, she realized she had just spent several hours lost in her videos and couldn't believe it. There had always just been one more that she had to watch and she'd completely lost track of time. Mikan shook her head. 'That screen is dangerous.'

Mikan stepped back into the room and glanced sheepishly at Jaluadecen seated at the table. He must think her a complete idiot. Though he seemed to think she was that the moment he stepped into the room. 'I wonder if he doesn't like humans. Just my luck to get an aide who detests me.' At least he was professional, though it was odd hearing utterly polite speech coming from a face twisted with contempt. Mikan squared her shoulders. 'I need to show him I'm not just going to waste his time.'

She marched down to him and looked directly into his black and lilac eyes and then squeaked and glanced at her toes. His eyes were just too intense. "Um," she mumbled. "Do you...I mean, if you don't mind, do you think you might be able to teach me how to read?" That seemed like a proper use of his time, though what prompted her wanting to know how to read was wanting to know the titles of the videos.

"Unfortunately," Jaluadecen said, "I am not a qualified teacher." Mikan's shoulders slumped. "However, there is a video series for aliens that should be able to help you. I will queue it up."

Mikan glanced up in delight. More videos and they would teach her how to read? She couldn't think of anything better. Her cheeks heated a little when she caught the cold stare of Jaluadecen. She was embarrassing herself. With as much dignity as she could, Mikan sat back at the table and waited for him to begin the first video. She watched the first two lessons and her eyes were drooping by the end of the second one. When Jaluadecen asked if she wanted to watch another, she shook her head.

"I think I am going to get some sleep," she said, getting to her feet.

Jaluadecen rose with her. He glowered at her, seeming even more angry than he had before. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, visibly gathering himself for the first time that Mikan had seen. He opened his eyes and spitted her with his glare. His eyes really would have been beautiful if they weren't so full of anger. "Would you like me to...accompany you to the bedroom?"

Mikan stared at him in confusion. Why did he think she needed guidance to a room that was ten steps away and why did he seem even more upset than usual about it? "No," she said slowly. "I think I'll be alright on my own." When he slumped, just a hair, with relief, she blinked at him. What was going on?

"In that case, I will remain here." He tapped a spot under the table and it rotated under the floor with a small bed replacing it. Mikan goggled at that. 'How cool.' But her awe left in a flash when she realized that Jaluadecen would be staying with her. Was that going to be for all twenty-four days? She hadn't been expecting that and wasn't sure how she felt about it. "If you have need of me during the night, do not hesitate to wake me." His expression suggested that he would be displeased if she did anything of the kind. Mikan nodded and left.

In her room and out of his sight, she stopped and shook her head. What had all that been about earlier? If she had said she wanted him to 'accompany her,' would he have slept in her bed with her? Was she so odious that he was relieved that he wouldn't have to share the bed? Unless...Mikan frowned. 'He couldn't have been offering to...' Mikan thought about his reaction. 'Maybe...but no.' He clearly despised her even if she had no idea why. Aides weren't required to do that sort of thing, were they? Especially with someone they disliked. Right? Mikan supposed she had no idea what the fie were actually like. 'I wish someone like Bel was my aide.' She blushed, even though it was her own thought. She hadn't meant it like that. 'But...maybe…'

Mikan glanced at her bed and a shock ran through her so hard that she actually jumped. 'Century!' She'd completely forgotten about Century! She'd been stuck in here for hours, waiting for Mikan to signal her or get rid of the visitor. But why didn't she come out when it was clear that Jaluadecen wasn't a threat? Mikan kneeled down and bent to look under the bed. Century was sleeping under the bed, emitting a soft snoring.

Mikan closed her eyes and rested her head on the side of the bed for a moment. It seemed like every new person she met was stranger than the last. Bel was the only exception. Mikan thought back to the passionate kiss and wondered if the fie woman really was an exception. With a sigh, Mikan stood and undressed. She snuggled under the covers and sighed in delight. The bed was incredibly comfortable and the sheets were amazingly soft. 'I wonder if I can move the screen in here,' she thought as she drifted off.